Buy Boutique Clothing from Wholesale Manufacturers

Getting started with your very own boutique can be challenging. With this task in mind, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. One of the most important factors is finding suppliers for your merchandise. These items need to be bought wholesale, which may require a bit of work to set up the process. It may take some time to find these businesses, especially since the competition in this industry is stiff. Keep in mind that most competitors will not give out important information. Buying boutique clothing from wholesale manufacturers can be challenging, but it is not an impossible task. Interested? Keep reading.

Finding Manufacturers

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Sales Reps

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Get a list of sales representatives in or near your location. This is ideal since it is better to personally get in touch with reps, especially when speaking about business matters like buying wholesale.

Be computer savvy and use your research skills to find the websites belonging to the designers. These websites will almost always have an option to get in touch with the designers or sales reps for business purposes. Do this by keeping an eye out for email addresses, phone numbers or Contact Us links.

Once you've gathered all the contact details you require, start calling or emailing these sales representatives and requesting a line sheet. The line sheet contains the collections they offer, specific merchandise information like sizes, fabrics and of course the wholesale prizes. You'll find the prizing depends on the size of the order. Collate these sheets for further review.

If you have access to trade shows or can find someone who has, then check out the new designers. More often than not, designers or their sales representatives are willing to speak about prices and arrangements on the spot.

While dealing with the sales representatives, use this time to ask essential questions tantamount to making your decision. An important question is the required minimum order quantity to obtain wholesale prices. During this time, you must explain that you are buying for a boutique and expect a continuous merchandise supply. The manufacturer will see this as an ongoing business arrangement and will possibly be open and setup for deals.

If you are considering designers you meet at trade shows, gather all their information - business cards, contact information, etc. While, some buyers will place orders immediately, it's far more prudent to sleep on it. You can decide the next day or week. Sometimes making a decision too quickly is just as quickly regretted. Organize all the contacts, browse their websites, and narrow down your list of choices.

Buying the Merchandise

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Make a Plan

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It is essential to determine what styles you want to feature in your boutique and go from there. Keep in mind that fashion is ever changing and that your boutique must be in line with current trends in fashion. Planning will allow you to organize your choices and make the best decisions.

Once you've determined the styles and merchandise you want to purchase, find out the prices for wholesale retail prices.

Calculate your estimated profits when you make decisions based on pricing.

Opt for manufacturers that offer you a better margin when it comes to reselling profits.

If you are leaning towards reselling branded merchandise, it is best to choose brands that are already established. These are usually brands that are known for their high quality and were established many years ago.

Keep in mind that consumers will almost always choose brands they have used before and therefore trust.

Never settle for poorly made and low quality merchandise just to earn a profit. Always look for quality items like the design, stitching, material, etc. If you are interested in keeping this business for the long run, make sure you maintain a reputation as a high quality seller. Likewise, your branded items must be the same in quality with its reputation.

Of course you can determine the quality of the merchandise you'll be purchasing by requesting samples. Ask the dealer or sales representatives to give you samples for quality check; this also allows you to have something to compare the merchandise to when you receive them.

If you have any concerns regarding your business, then ask before paying for the items. Unfortunately, there are wholesale dealers who will not give you the time of day once your business is done. Avoid this scenario by ensuring everything before sealing the deal. Common concerns usually include the costs of shipping, the estimated time for the merchandise arrival, packaging issues and insurance. These are all valid queries and the dealer must ensure all of these are in order.

Tips, Tricks and Warnings

Start Small. Set up your boutique by focusing on a particular manufacturer. Later on, you can expand and add more items like accessories when you get more buyers.

Be Informed. Purchasing items for your boutique must be done seasons ahead. This means if you are purchasing items for the summer then you need to find items for that season during previous autumn. This goes the same way for the other seasons - get spring items the previous summer, etc.

Check Sites. If you are aware of in-demand brands in your area, then visit different clothing brand websites and get wholesale purchasing information for your boutique.

Be Connected. Do not think twice when contacting dealers more than once. If they are unavailable for a certain season, ask again for the next. Contact designers in your local area, as they may be more affordable than international companies.